We would like to say thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to our bonfire survey in 2021. We had a great response, with many insightful and useful comments given. Attached to this letter is a summary of the results, which has been written by two of our allotment representatives, Geoffrey Copland, and Max Wade.

Wheathampstead Parish Council has made the decision to ban bonfires for the disposal of plant-based material on all allotment fields. In line with the relevant allotment legislation, this ban will take effect from Saturday 1 April 2023, which provides all tenants with the minimum required twelve months’ notice.

PLEASE NOTE: Bonfires to dispose of non-organic materials have never been permitted.

As nearly all COVID restrictions have been lifted, bonfires of allotment waste will be permitted in the interim on allotment fields in line with the conditions regarding days and times outlined in the tenancy agreement and Section 3.4 of the Allotment Rules and Procedures:

3.4 Bonfires are permitted under certain conditions. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 it is an offence to cause a nuisance through the generation of ‘smoke emitted from premises to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance’. The tenant therefore must conform to the following requirements:

• Bonfires are permitted on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays between the hours of 8am and noon.
• Bonfires must be extinguished, if not burnt out, by dusk, and must not be left unattended.
• Only burn when suitable weather conditions permit, to avoid causing a nuisance (wind drift etc).
• Only burn organic matter and dry vegetable matter that has been produced on your own plot. Do not burn material that has been given to you from other plots.
• Do not set fire to massive piles of materials but start with a medium stack and add further material in stages.
• Non-vegetable matter such as plastic, rubber, carpet or roofing felt must not be burnt, and flammable liquids such as old sump oil must not be burnt or used to light fires.
• In the event of a reasonable complaint, from another tenant or member of the public, regarding a nuisance being caused by the bonfire, then the fire must be extinguished.

In addition, you must comply with the Good Bonfire Guidelines (see Allotment Rules and Procedures, Appendix A).

Over the last two years, alternatives to bonfires have been implemented by many tenants, and it is therefore hoped that bonfires will be kept to a minimum. However, we do recognise that that some may appreciate the additional time to get their plots clear of waste plant material.

If you have any questions, please email the Parish Council office at info@wheathampstead-pc.gov.uk or call 01582 832541.